Even though Disaster rarely spoke, it seemed so much quieter without her. An awkward silence hung over the Killjoys as they prepared to set out for the next couple of Drac camps. Ray guns were loaded and provisions were packed. They were ready.
The drive to the camp was not at all like the one from the previous day. No songs were sung, in fact, barely any words were spoken at all. Everyone had become very ill at ease since Disaster had marched out.
Flame began to share Crimson's questioning of Disaster. She had never met a Killjoy who just gave up on their friends for their own comfort. They had all gotten used to being sore and tired after years of running and sleeping wherever they could, eating nothing but stolen cans of beans from Draculoid camps. So why was Disaster not used to it? Also, Flame remembered the first night they had met Beautiful Disaster. She had built a massive bonfire when she was only twenty or so miles away from a Drac camp. Either she was extremely stupid, or she hadn't been running for nearly as long as she'd declared.
The only upside of Disaster's absence was that there was so much more room in the spider car. Ghoul, Crimson and Kobra no longer had to squish together in the back seat.
Crimson sat with her arm encircling Ghouls, her fingers tracing the tattoos on his hands. Somehow, that always soothed her. When Ghoul had followed her after she ran out earlier, they had just sat on the ground, her outlining his tattoos. She didn't know why, but they mesmerized her.
Small rocks smashed against the metal exterior of the car as it barreled down the dusty path, small clanks filling the silence. Although they were going exceptionally fast, it was as if time had slowed down. There was nothing but endless desert in front and behind them. Although the Drac hideout was getting closer and closer, they were not optimistic. Deep inside, they knew they'd lost too much time. Korse would be too far ahead. Flame spoke the words they were all thinking.
"He's not going to be at these Drac houses," she turned to face everyone from her seat in the front of the car, "He's too far ahead,"
Kobra merely nodded, still not speaking. He was still shocked at how Disaster had totally abandoned them and given up on the search for Party Poison.
"I agree with Flame," he said eventually, "I say we skip the next couple of Drac hide-outs, maybe going to number eighteen?"
The group nodded in agreement, and so, the next Drac hideout came and went, along with many others.
After hours of silent driving, they were finally nearing Drac hideout number eighteen.
They parked the car and stepped out. The sun beat down on their necks, but they weren't complaining.
Walking forward through the sand, Flame knew something was wrong almost immediately. The usually still air now had a slight breeze to it. She glanced around, but saw nothing.
Then it appeared. Out of nowhere, a white hovercraft became visible against the cloudless blue sky.
"Look out!" Flame screeched as a torpedo of light shot down, slashing the ground mere centimeters from where she'd been standing. The others thrust their hands over their heads instinctively.
Light beam after light beam shot down, but somehow, they all managed to dodge the rays as the flung themselves towards the car, thrusting open the doors. Crimson managed to get in behind the wheel. Unfortunately, she'd never driven a car in her life, but she knew the basics. As soon as she saw that everyone was in the spider car, she twisted the key in the ignition, stomping on the gas. The car thrust forward, causing Flame, who was seated in the back, to smack her head on the back o the passenger's seat.
They wound their way across the desert sand, taking down small bushes and sweeping up dust in their wake. But still, the hovercraft continued to follow, shooting rays all the way.
Then, over the roar of the engine and the clanking of rocks hitting against the metal of the car, Jet heard another sound, like metal scraping against metal, and gears working. He stuck his curly haired head out of the glassless window and stared up at the hovercraft. A door was opening up on the bottom, revealing a large metal claw, big enough to pick up a car. Their car.
"THE CLAW!" he screamed, but it was too late. The metal hand attached itself to the back of the car, causing it to swerve out of control.
Suddenly, they noticed a massive boulder that was standing directly into their path. Crimson couldn't direct the car away from it, so she slammed on the brakes. The car skidded, diving headlong into the boulder. As they made impact, Crimson's head smashed into the steering wheel, and everything went black.